Suction cleaner handle construction



Oct. 4, 1938. E. F. MARTINET 2,131,342

SUCTION CLEANER HANDLE CONSTRUCTION 'Filed March 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet1 9 2a 24 I7 I I 25 /5i 1 55 [29.8 54 46 A 1 2 v25 1 40 46 46' 5/ 57 5]47 1 56' 5g 30 I] 45 44 6' v '45 56" 54 .45 I 7/ '24 #7? 54 36/ Z5 7 \5,i5 26" Fly/051 Oct. 4,. 1938. SE. F. MARTlNET SUCTION CLEANER HANDLECONSTRUCTION Filed March 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 1938corporation of Ohio SUCTION CLEANER HANDLE. CONSTRUCTION Eugene F.Martinet, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to 1 The P. A. Geier Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a. I

Application March 17, 1930, Serial No. 69,346 5 Claims. (Cl. 306-.-13)

The invention relates to suction cleaners, and more particularly to ahandle securing mechanism for an electrically-operated, portable,

- domestic or household, suction cleaner, having a 5 motor driven fan, asuction nozzle and a dust bag, manipulated by a handle; said handlesegcuring mechanism being adjustable to various operative positions andbeing retainable in any [one of a plurality of positions, by footactuated l J-means.

' A suction cleaner is normally or usually operated in open floor areasand for such purposes it is desirable and convenient to be able 'tofreely swing the handle through an arc of approximate- 15 ly 50 rearwardfrom the vertical, in manipulating the cleaner. Moreover, during suchnormal or usual operation of the cleaner, it may frequently becomedesirable or necessary to tilt or raise the nozzle upward in order todisengage 20 the nozzle from a corner or an edge of a rug,

or to lift the nozzle over a corner or an edge of a rug, or over someother slightly raised surface.

It is therefore desirable that the handle construction permits a tiltingof the cleaner without re 25 quiring the handle to be lowered much belowa 50 angled position from the vertical.

However, it sometimes becomes necessary to lower the handlesubstantially to a horizontalposition in order to clean under beds, orunder 30 low objectsor in other low clearance places.

Likewise, it'is sometimes desirable to lock the cleaner .handle in ahorizontal position, or in various angled positions such as at "20 and50 rearward from the vertical. It is likewise de- 35 sirable, when acleaner is left momentarily in a room or put away in a closet, to movethe handle upright to a position where it will stand by itselfsubstantially vertically or angled slightly forward of the vertical.

40 -Moreover, it is very desirable that the cleaner handle be adaptedfor quick and easy movement from any one to any other of the describedpositions, with a minimum of effort and without tiring the operator, asby a simple foot operation 45 of handle controlling means so as not torequire the operator to stoop or bend over to the floor in order toadjust, lock or unlock the handle controlling mechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present in- 50 vention to provideahandle construction for suction cleaners which may be freely swungthrough a working range of approximately 50" rearward from the vertical,during normal operation of the cleaner.

55 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a handleconstruction for suction cleaners by whlch the cleaner may be tilted toraise the nozzle upward by pushing the handle downward below a 50 angledposition from the vertical.

Moreover, it is an object of the present inven tion toprovide a handleconstruction for suction cleaners, the handle of which may be readilymoved, by a simple foot actuation of a controlling device from a freeswinging and nozzle tilting range, herein term'ed normal range, to afree swinging position between horizontal and 40 above horizontal; butwhich handle is again confined to movement in said normal rangeautomatically whenever the handle is raised beyond approximately 40above horizontal, after having been moved without tilting the nozzle tosome position below 40 above horizontal, herein termed horizontalrange;-

- It is also an object of the present invention to provide a handleconstruction for suction cleaners, with a foot actuated controllingdevice, which not only controls operation insaid normal range, and insaid horizontal range automatically returnable .to said normal range;but which controlling device also may be utilized for locking thecleaner handle in a horizontal position, or in various angled positionsbetween horizontal and vertical.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a handleconstruction for 1 suction cleaners with a foot actuated handlecontrollngfand locking device, which permits the handle to be moved to asubstantially upright position, where the handle will stand by itselfsubstantially vertically or angled slightly forward of the vertical, andfrom which upright position the handle may be readily moved to saidnormal range.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a suctioncleaner handle construction and a controlling device therefor, thehandle of which may be readily, quickly and easily moved from any one toany other of the described positions, working ranges, or lockedpositions, with a minimum of efiort and without requiring any actuationof the controlling device, except in certain cases a simple footactuation thereof.

Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a suctioncleaner handle construction and a controlling device therefor, which .isvery easy to construct and is composed of relatively few parts of simpledesign; and which does not require, for the accomplishment of theaforesaid objects, complicated cam slotted parts, or

hand manipulations, actuation or adjustment of the controllingmechanism.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide asuction cleaner handle construction and a controlling device therefor,which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble,

which accomplishes the objects and results described, and which may beoperated and manipulated with a minimum of effort.

These and other objects may be obtained by the suction cleaner andhandle constructions, parts, elements, devices and combinations, a pre-'ferred embodiment of whichis shown in the accompanying drawings, and ishereinafterdescribed in detail and claimed, which may be stated ingeneral terms as preferably including in suction cleaner construction, acleaning unit, a handle for manipulating the cleaning unit including afork pivotally mounted on the unit, a controlling device for the handleincluding a plate member mounted on the unit having a plurality oflocking notches and a plurality of stop lugs thereon and a foot operablelatch member mounted on the handle fork selectively engageable with saidnotches and lugs, tension devices controlling the latch member, and aspring be tween the handle and unit normally urging the handle to anupright position.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an electrically operatedportable suction cleaner, in which the improved handle construction isincorporated;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional elevation of the improvedhandle construction, showing the handle in upright" position in fulllines, and showing by dotted lines and an arrow the free swinging andnozzle tilting range of handle movement, herein termed normal range;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional end view of the parts shown in fulllines in Fig. 2, taken on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the handle locked in anangled position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6, Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, taken on the line 1-1, Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 4, but showing the handle in aposition within the horizontal range" of handle movement;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional end view taken on the line 9-9, Fig.8; v

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the handle locked in asubstantially horizontal position;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ||--H, Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is another sectional view taken on the line l2l2, Fig. 9; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the handle controlling plate member.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figuresof the drawings.

A usual type of electrically-operated portable suction cleaner is shownin Fig. 1, which may comprise a motor in a motor housing i4, providedwith a fan housing I5, having a fan (not shown) therein, and a suctionnozzle 16 communicating with the fan housing. An operating handle I1,and a dust bag I8 connected with the exhaust opening of the fan housingalso are provided for the cleaner; and the motor housing I4, the fanhousing |5, and nozzle l6, termed herein a "cleaning unit", are mountedon front casters l9, and preferably an adjustable double rear caster20,- for ambulant motion over a floor or the like indicated at 2|. Thecleaning unit also may be provided with a lighting device generallyindicated at 22.

The improved handle construction and controlling device is indicatedgenerally in Fig. 1 at 23, and is best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 13,inclusive. The improved handle construction and controlling device 23preferably includes a handle fork 24, having fork members 25 and 25a,pivotally mounted by a screw 26, within recesses 21 and 21a provided inthe motor housing I4; and a portion I 4a of the motor housing preferablyis removable for gaining access to the pivotal connection screw 26.

The upper end of the handle fork 24 may be provided with a tubular,preferably round, split socket 28, in which the reduced round lower end29 of the tubular handle I! is clamped by a bolt 30 (Figs. 2 and 3) andthe handle I1 is centered preferably by providing a pin 3| on the lowerend 29 thereof, which projects between the walls 32 of the slot 33forming the split in the upper portion of the handle fork 24.

The handle fork 24 also preferably is provided with a front wall 34extending between the fork members 25 and 25a, below the upper splitsocket portion 28, as best shown in Fig. 11; and a preferably round boss35 projects rearwardly from the wall 34 (Figs. 2 and 11). A lug 36 alsoprojects rearward from the wall 34, as does a notched lug 31. A rib 38,slotted at 39, also projects reaiwardly from the wall 34 and inwardlyfrom the handle fork 25a, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 11.

A foot operable latch member or lever generally indicated at 40, ispivotally mounted by the screw 4| on the boss'35 of the handle fork 24;and the latch member 40 may be in the general form of a bell crank lever(Fig. 3), having an actuating portion 42, which projects through a slot43 provided in the fork member 25, opposite and in alignment with therib slot 39; and the member 40 has an aligning portion 44 operating insaid slot 39, which terminates in a downwardly and preferably angularlydisposed latch portion 45.

A coil spring 46 surrounds the boss 35 and one end 41 of the spring 46is engaged on top of the rib 38 (Fig. 11) and the other end thereof isturned backwardand then reversely forward as at 48 to engage over thelug 36, and then terminates in a downturned portion 49 (Fig. 3) hookedover the actuating portion 42 of the latch member 40.

The spring 46 normally holds the latch member 40 in the position shownin Figs. 2, 3 and 6 of the drawings where it is in line for abutmentwith stop lugs 63 and 64, and returns the latch member 40 to such aposition automatically from the position shown in Figs. 8, 9, l1 and 12,if no stops engage the latch lever to prevent such return.

A spring washer 50 is interposed between the head of the screw 4| andthe latch member 40 for frictionally holding the latch member 40 in theposition of Figs. 2, 3 and 6 when moved thereto by the spring 46, or forholding the latch member 40 in the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7,when moved thereto from the position of Figs. 2, 3 and 6.

For accomplishing such operations, the tension of the spring 46 is muchgreater than that of the spring washer 50, but the spring 46 does notreact against the latch member 40 at.any time when the operating member40 is moved downward from the position of Fig. 3 to the position of Fig.5, because the 'end 4649 of the spring 46 becomes disengaged from theactuating portion 42 by striking the lug 36 as well shown in Figs. 3, 5,

Sand 7. Thus, when the parts are in the position of Figs. 4 and 5, withthe latch portion 45 engaged in looking notch 66, or when the part 45 isengaged in any other locking notch, the spring 46 is renderedinoperative by lug 36.

The controlling device also includes a plate member 5|, best shown inFig. 13, mounted on the cleaning unit by inserting the lower portion 52thereof in recess 21a and passing pivot bolt 26 through the largecentral aperture 53 of the plate member 5|, and by also securing screws54 and 55 to the housing |4 through apertures 56 and 51 in the platemember.

The upper edge ,of the plate member 5| is preferably arcuately shaped at58 on a radius from the center of the pivotbolt 26; and terminates in aninturned arcuate flange 59, provided with a plurality of locking notches66, 6| and62 and a plurality of projecting stop lugs 63 and 64. Theflange 59 preferably is slanted from the stop lug portion 63 to theentrance to the notch 62, as indicated at 65.

A coil spring'66 preferably surrounds the pivot bolt 26 (Figs. 2 and 3)and one end 61 of the spring 66 engages on top of the screw 55, whilethe other end 68 thereof projects through a slot 69 in the motor housingl4 and is engaged in the notched lug 31 of the handle fork wall 34. Thespring 66 normally does not quite counterbalance the weight of thehandle l1 and parts carried thereby, but is sufficiently strong to movethe handle to and to hold it at the position shown in full lines in Fig.2 from any substantially vertical position.

When the suction cleaner is normally operated in open floor areas, theparts are in the position shown in full lines in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Inthis position of the parts, the handle may .be freely swung backward andforwardthrough an arc of approximately 50 rearward from the vertical, tomanipulate the cleaner, as shown somewhat by the arrow in Fig. 2. Thedot-dash line position of the handle parts in Fig. 2 shows the limit ofrearward free movement of the handle, because, at that position, thelatch portion 45 of the latch member 46 engages stop lug 63 of the platemember 5|. 5

With the parts in the full line position of Fig. 2, and with the handlemoved to the dot-dash position, further'downward movement of the handlecauses the cleaner unit to tilt on the double rear caster 20 so as -toraise the nozzle in order to disengage the nozzle from the'corn-er or anedge of a rug, or to lift the nozzle over an edge of a rug, or over someother raised surface. This position of the parts just described gives afree swinging and nozzle tilting range of movement of the handlemounting and controlling parts, termed herein a normal range.

When the cleaner is put away in a closet, or is left standing in a room'with the handle substantially vertical, the spring 66 will swing andhold the same to the upright position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. l I

For certain purposes, it may be desirable to lock the cleaner handle atan angled position of approximately 20 rearward from the vertical; andthis may be accomplished by moving the handle fork past notch 60 and atthe same time depressing the actuating portion 42 of the latch member 40with the foot to engage the latch portion 45 in notch 66, as best shownin Fig. 4.

-When the manipulations requiring such a locked handle position arecompleted, all that is necessary is to move the actuating portion 42 ofthe latch member 40 .upward with the foot, in which event the partsagain assume the position for operating in the normal range.

In a similar manner, the parts may be locked in or unlocked from alocked handle position in which the handle extends at an angle ofapproximately 50 rearward from the vertical by engaging the latchportion 45 in looking notch 6|.

When it is necessary to lower the handle substantially toa horizontalposition, in order to clean under beds or the like, or to a positionextending rearward within a range from the horizontal to an angle'of 40above horizontal, herein termed horizontal range, it is only necessaryto raise the actuating portion 42 of the latch member 46 with the foot,to the position shown in Fig. 9, whereupon the latch portion 45 isdisengaged from the stop lug 63 and rides along slanted portion 65, aswell shown in Fig.8.

The instant that the handle is moved beyond the limits of the horizontalrange, that is, when the latch portion 45 rides past the stop ing 63,the latch member 46 automatically moves by the pressure of the spring 46to the position shown in Fig. 3, limiting subsequent movement of thehandle to the normal range, whereupon the cleaner handle may be freelyswung within the normal range, or the cleaning unit tilted, as abovedescribed.

In some instances it may be desirable to lock the handle in-a horizontalposition, and this may be accomplished whenever the handle fork islocated anywhere within the horizontal range by moving the handle to theposition shown in Fig. 10 and then depressing the actuating portion- 42of the latch member 40 to engage the latch portion 45 in locking notch62, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 10. a

Accordingly, the improved suction cleaner handle construction andcontrolling device provides for operation of the cleaner with a minimumof effort, without tiring the operator, without requiring the operatorto stoop or bend over to the floor in order to manipulate the handlecontrolling mechanism; provides for manipulation of the handlecontrolling mechanism by simple foot operations; provides for normallyconfining, the handle to movement in a normal range and forautomatically returning the controlling device parts to limit themovement to the normal range after operating in a horizontal range;provides for locking the handle at various desired posi- ,tions; andprovides for maintaining the handle in a substantially upright positionwhere it will stand by itself angled slightly forward of the vertical.

Having now described the features of the invention and the preferred useand advantages thereby obtained, the new and useful parts, eleinents,devices, combinations and constructions, and reasonable mechanicalequivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forthin the appended claims.

1. In suction cleaner construction;, a motor, fan and nozzle unit; amanipulating handle pivotally mounted on the unit;' and a foot-actuateddevice selectively controlling operation of the handle, including aplate member mounted on the unit having a plurality of locking notchesand a plurality of stop lugs, a foot operable latch member mounted onthe handle selectively engageable with said notches and lugs, andtension devices controlling the latch member.

2. In a suction cleaner construction; a motor, fan and nozzle unit; amanipulating handle mounted on the unit; a foot-actuated devicecontrolling operation of the handle; said device including a forkconnected to the handle and pivotally mounted on the unit, an arcuateplate member mounted on the unit having a plurality of locking notchesand a plurality of stop lugs, a,

foot operable latch member pivotally mounted on the handle fork havingan actuating portion 1 and having a latch portion selectively engageablewith said notches and lugs, tension devices controlling the latchmember, and a spring reacting between the handle and unit normallyurging the handle to an upright position.

3. In suction cleaner construction; a motor, fan and nozzle unit; amanipulating handle unit pivotally mounted on the first mentioned unitfor operation in a free-swinging and nozzle-tilting range, in ahorizontal range, and in a plurality of locked positions; and afoot-actuated handle controlling device including a plurality of lockingparts and a plurality of stop parts on one of the units, lever means onthe other unit for selective engagement with any of said looking or stopparts, means urging said lever means to a position for abutment with anyof said stop parts, and means rendering said last means inoperative whenthe lever means engages any of said locking parts,

-whereby the stop parts provide for limiting movement of the handleselectively in free swinging and nozzle tilting range, or in horizontalrange.

4. In suction cleaner construction; a motor, fan

and nozzle unit; a manipulating handle unit pivotally mounted on thefirst mentioned unit for operation in a free-swinging and nozzle-tiltingrange, in a horizontal range, and in a plurality of locked positions; afoot-actuated handle controlling device including a plurality of lockingparts and a plurality of stop parts on one of the units, lever means onthe other unit for selective engagement with any of said locking or stopparts, means urging said lever means to a position for abutment with anyof said stop parts, and means rendering said last means inoperative whenthe lever means engages any of said locking parts, whereby the stopparts provide for limiting movement of the handle selectively infree-swinging and nozzle-tilting range, or in horizontal range; andspring means holding the lever means in a selected locked positionwhenever the handle is locked in such selected position.

5. In suction cleaner construction; a motor, fan and nozzle unit; amanipulating handle unit 'pivotally mounted on the first mentioned unitfor operation in a free-swinging and nomle-tilting range, in ahorizontal range, and in a plurality of locked positions; afoot-actuated handle controlling device including a plurality of lockingparts and a plurality of stop parts on one of the units, lever means onthe other unit for selective engagement with any of said looking or stopparts, means urging said lever means to a position for abutment with anyof said stop parts, and means rendering said last means inoperative whenthe lever means engages any of said locking parts, whereby the stopparts provide for limiting movement of the handle selectively infree-swinging and nozzle-tilting range, or in horizontal range; and aspring reacting between said units normally urging the handle to anupright position.

- EUGENE F. MARTINET.

